On Friday, March 15th, the Westfield School District assisted their local American Red Cross by hosting “Hats on for HEROES”. A simple fundraiser in which a student pays $1 for the privilege of wearing a hat for the day, “Hats on for HEROES”—a first-time event, was extremely successful.

All the funds will be utilized locally in Marquette County for Local Disaster Relief and Service to the Armed Forces.

The most common disasters are RESIDENTIAL FIRES. Every 9 minutes in the United States, a Red Cross Disaster Worker responds to a fire. Due to the generosity of the American people, the Red Cross is able to provide temporary shelter, food, clothing, shoes, bedding, linens, and personal hygiene items. They can also facilitate the replacement of prescription medications and eyewear. But perhaps the most important gift Disaster Workers provide is INVALUABLE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.

Service to Armed Forces is a new addition to the HEROES fundraiser this year. Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, the Red Cross relays urgent messages containing accurate, factual, complete and verified descriptions of the emergency to service members stationed anywhere in the world, including on ships at sea and at embassies and remote locations.

The Red Cross provides emergency financial assistance, volunteers in area VA Hospitals, and sees that military members arrive home for funerals and births. This “personal touch”, again, is due to the incredible generosity of citizens like the Westfield students, staff and administration.

Brakebush Brothers, well known as a philanthropic corporate citizen, stepped up to also become a HERO and facilitated the new Red Cross relationship with the Westfield School District.

“Down the street, across the country, around the world—the Red Cross is there”, because of students like those who attend the Westfield Schools and generous corporations like Brakebush Brothers.